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Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has accused his predecessor, Adegboyega Oyetola, and the Managing Director of the National Inland Waterways Authority, Bola Oyebamiji, of using their influence within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to punish residents of Osun State for electing his administration in 2022.
Speaking ahead of the August 15 governorship election, Adeleke alleged that both men had repeatedly sought to undermine his government through actions that negatively affected the state’s workforce and economy.
“On numerous occasions, Oyetola and Oyebamiji have used their influence within the ruling party at the federal level to punish the people of Osun State simply because they chose to vote for us in 2022,” the governor said.
He claimed the alleged actions had affected workers, civil servants and ordinary residents across the state.
“Their actions have targeted the welfare of our workers and threatened the livelihoods of our civil servants, traders, artisans, and ordinary citizens,” Adeleke said.
The governor described the forthcoming election as a referendum on the state’s democratic rights rather than merely a contest for political office.
“That is why the August 15 election is more than just winning. It is about securing a decisive victory that sends a clear and unmistakable message to the APC: the people of Osun State must always be respected, their democratic choice must be honoured, and no one should ever seek to punish them for exercising their constitutional right to vote.”
Adeleke’s remarks follow heightened political tensions in Osun after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission froze an official state government bank account as part of an investigation into the alleged handling of state funds.
The state government has condemned the action as politically motivated and aimed at influencing the governorship election, while the EFCC has maintained that its investigation is lawful, evidence-based and unrelated to the poll.
Adeleke’s comments further escalate the exchange between the Peoples Democratic Party and the APC as campaigning intensifies ahead of the August 15 governorship election in Osun State.
AUGUST 15 ELECTION IS NOT JUST ABOUT WINNING, IT IS TO SEND A STRONG MESSAGE TO APC ON THE IMPORTANCE OF RESPECTING THE PEOPLE.
On numerous occasions, Oyetola and Oyebamiji have used their influence within the ruling party at the federal level to punish the people of Osun State…
— Gov Ademola Adeleke (@AAdeleke_01) August 6, 2026
